\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tScience Launches to Space Station on NASA\u2019s 20th Northrop Grumman Mission\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Northrop](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/cygnus-space-freighter-in-the-grips-of-the-canadarm2-robotic-arm-52180235146-o.jpg?w=1536\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\niss067e156135 (July 28, 2022) \u2014 Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus space freighter is positioned away from the International Space Station in the grips of the Canadarm2 robotic arm prior to its release ending a four-month stay attached to the orbiting lab’s Unity module.<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCredits: <\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNASA<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nTests of a 3D metal printer, semiconductor manufacturing, and thermal protection systems for reentry to Earth\u2019s atmosphere are among the scientific investigation that NASA and international partners are launching to the International Space Station on Northrop Grumman\u2019s 20th commercial resupply services mission. The company\u2019s Cygnus cargo spacecraft is scheduled to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida by late January.<\/p>\n
Read more about some of the research making the journey to the orbiting laboratory:<\/p>\n
3D Printing in Space<\/strong><\/h2>\nAn investigation from ESA (European Space Agency), Metal 3D Printer<\/a> tests additive manufacturing or 3D printing of small metal parts in microgravity.<\/p>\n\u201cThis investigation provides us with an initial understanding of how such a printer behaves in space,\u201d said Rob Postema of ESA. \u201cA 3D printer can create many shapes, and we plan to print specimens, first to understand how printing in space may differ from printing on Earth and second to see what types of shapes we can print with this technology. In addition, this activity helps show how crew members can work safely and efficiently with printing metal parts in space.\u201d<\/p>\n
Results could improve understanding of the functionality, performance, and operations of metal 3D printing in space, as well as the quality, strength, and characteristics of the printed parts. Resupply presents a challenge for future long-duration human missions. Crew members could use 3D printing to create parts for maintenance of equipment on future long-duration spaceflight and on the Moon or Mars, reducing the need to pack spare parts or to predict every tool or object that might be needed, saving time and money at launch.<\/p>\n
Advances in metal 3D printing technology also could benefit potential applications on Earth, including manufacturing engines for the automotive, aeronautical, and maritime industries and creating shelters after natural disasters.<\/p>\n
A team led by Airbus U.S. Space & Defense and Space SAS under a contract with ESA developed the investigation.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/3d-printer-sample-a-1xg-ref-02.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/figure>\nSamples produced by the Metal 3D Printer prior to launch to the space station. <\/div>\nESA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nSemiconductor Manufacturing in Microgravity<\/strong><\/h2>\nManufacturing of Semiconductors and Thin-Film Integrated Coatings (MSTIC<\/strong><\/a>) examines how microgravity affects thin films that have a wide range of uses.<\/p>\n\u201cThe potential for producing films with superior surface structures and the broad range of applications from energy harvesting to advanced sensor technology are particularly groundbreaking,\u201d said Alex Hayes of Redwire Space, which developed the technology. \u201cThis represents a significant leap in space manufacturing and could herald a new era of technological advancements with wide-reaching implications for both space exploration and terrestrial applications.\u201d<\/p>\n
This technology could enable autonomous manufacturing to replace the many machines and processes currently used to make a wide range of semiconductors, potentially leading to the development of more efficient and higher-performing electrical devices.<\/p>\n
Manufacturing semiconductor devices in microgravity also may improve their quality and reduce the materials, equipment, and labor required. On future long-duration missions, this technology could provide the capability to produce components and devices in space, reducing the need for resupply missions from Earth. The technology also has applications for devices that harvest energy and provide power on Earth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile this initial pilot program is designed to compare thin films produced on Earth and in space, the ultimate goal is to expand to producing a diverse range of production areas within the semiconductor field,\u201d Hayes said.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/redwire-mstic-img-5715.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/figure>\nThe gas supply modules and production module for Redwire\u2019s MSTIC investigation. <\/div>\nRedwire<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nModeling Atmospheric Re-entry<\/strong><\/h2>\nScientists who conduct research on the space station often return their experiments to Earth for additional analysis and study. But the conditions that spacecraft experience during atmospheric reentry, including extreme heat, can have unintended effects on their contents. Thermal protection systems used to shield spacecraft and their contents are based on numerical models that often lack validation from actual flight, which can lead to significant overestimates in the size of system needed and take up valuable space and mass. Kentucky Re-entry Probe Experiment-2 (KREPE-2<\/a>), part of an effort to improve thermal protection system technology, uses three capsules outfitted with different heat shield materials and a variety of sensors to obtain data on actual reentry conditions.<\/p>\n\u201cBuilding on the success of KREPE-1, we have improved the sensors to gather more measurements and improved the communication system to transmit more data,\u201d said principal investigator Alexandre Martin at the University of Kentucky. \u201cWe have the opportunity to test several heat shields provided by NASA that have never been tested before, and another manufactured entirely at the University of Kentucky, also a first.\u201d<\/p>\n
The capsules can be outfitted for other atmospheric re-entry experiments, supporting improvements in heat shielding for applications on Earth, such as protecting people and structures from wildfires.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"Orange](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/krepe-2-capsule-re-entry.png?w=2048\")
<\/figure>\nAn artist\u2019s rendering of one of the KREPE-2 capsules during re-entry. <\/div>\n
<\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNASA<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Tests of a 3D metal printer, semiconductor manufacturing, and thermal protection systems for reentry to Earth\u2019s atmosphere are among the scientific investigation that NASA and international partners are launching to the International Space Station on Northrop Grumman\u2019s 20th commercial resupply services mission. The company\u2019s Cygnus cargo spacecraft is scheduled to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida by late January.<\/p>\n
Read more about some of the research making the journey to the orbiting laboratory:<\/p>\n
3D Printing in Space<\/strong><\/h2>\nAn investigation from ESA (European Space Agency), Metal 3D Printer<\/a> tests additive manufacturing or 3D printing of small metal parts in microgravity.<\/p>\n\u201cThis investigation provides us with an initial understanding of how such a printer behaves in space,\u201d said Rob Postema of ESA. \u201cA 3D printer can create many shapes, and we plan to print specimens, first to understand how printing in space may differ from printing on Earth and second to see what types of shapes we can print with this technology. In addition, this activity helps show how crew members can work safely and efficiently with printing metal parts in space.\u201d<\/p>\n
Results could improve understanding of the functionality, performance, and operations of metal 3D printing in space, as well as the quality, strength, and characteristics of the printed parts. Resupply presents a challenge for future long-duration human missions. Crew members could use 3D printing to create parts for maintenance of equipment on future long-duration spaceflight and on the Moon or Mars, reducing the need to pack spare parts or to predict every tool or object that might be needed, saving time and money at launch.<\/p>\n
Advances in metal 3D printing technology also could benefit potential applications on Earth, including manufacturing engines for the automotive, aeronautical, and maritime industries and creating shelters after natural disasters.<\/p>\n
A team led by Airbus U.S. Space & Defense and Space SAS under a contract with ESA developed the investigation.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/figure>\nSamples produced by the Metal 3D Printer prior to launch to the space station. <\/div>\nESA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nSemiconductor Manufacturing in Microgravity<\/strong><\/h2>\nManufacturing of Semiconductors and Thin-Film Integrated Coatings (MSTIC<\/strong><\/a>) examines how microgravity affects thin films that have a wide range of uses.<\/p>\n\u201cThe potential for producing films with superior surface structures and the broad range of applications from energy harvesting to advanced sensor technology are particularly groundbreaking,\u201d said Alex Hayes of Redwire Space, which developed the technology. \u201cThis represents a significant leap in space manufacturing and could herald a new era of technological advancements with wide-reaching implications for both space exploration and terrestrial applications.\u201d<\/p>\n
This technology could enable autonomous manufacturing to replace the many machines and processes currently used to make a wide range of semiconductors, potentially leading to the development of more efficient and higher-performing electrical devices.<\/p>\n
Manufacturing semiconductor devices in microgravity also may improve their quality and reduce the materials, equipment, and labor required. On future long-duration missions, this technology could provide the capability to produce components and devices in space, reducing the need for resupply missions from Earth. The technology also has applications for devices that harvest energy and provide power on Earth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile this initial pilot program is designed to compare thin films produced on Earth and in space, the ultimate goal is to expand to producing a diverse range of production areas within the semiconductor field,\u201d Hayes said.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/figure>\nThe gas supply modules and production module for Redwire\u2019s MSTIC investigation. <\/div>\nRedwire<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nModeling Atmospheric Re-entry<\/strong><\/h2>\nScientists who conduct research on the space station often return their experiments to Earth for additional analysis and study. But the conditions that spacecraft experience during atmospheric reentry, including extreme heat, can have unintended effects on their contents. Thermal protection systems used to shield spacecraft and their contents are based on numerical models that often lack validation from actual flight, which can lead to significant overestimates in the size of system needed and take up valuable space and mass. Kentucky Re-entry Probe Experiment-2 (KREPE-2<\/a>), part of an effort to improve thermal protection system technology, uses three capsules outfitted with different heat shield materials and a variety of sensors to obtain data on actual reentry conditions.<\/p>\n\u201cBuilding on the success of KREPE-1, we have improved the sensors to gather more measurements and improved the communication system to transmit more data,\u201d said principal investigator Alexandre Martin at the University of Kentucky. \u201cWe have the opportunity to test several heat shields provided by NASA that have never been tested before, and another manufactured entirely at the University of Kentucky, also a first.\u201d<\/p>\n
The capsules can be outfitted for other atmospheric re-entry experiments, supporting improvements in heat shielding for applications on Earth, such as protecting people and structures from wildfires.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/figure>\nAn artist\u2019s rendering of one of the KREPE-2 capsules during re-entry. <\/div>\n
\u201cThis investigation provides us with an initial understanding of how such a printer behaves in space,\u201d said Rob Postema of ESA. \u201cA 3D printer can create many shapes, and we plan to print specimens, first to understand how printing in space may differ from printing on Earth and second to see what types of shapes we can print with this technology. In addition, this activity helps show how crew members can work safely and efficiently with printing metal parts in space.\u201d<\/p>\n
Results could improve understanding of the functionality, performance, and operations of metal 3D printing in space, as well as the quality, strength, and characteristics of the printed parts. Resupply presents a challenge for future long-duration human missions. Crew members could use 3D printing to create parts for maintenance of equipment on future long-duration spaceflight and on the Moon or Mars, reducing the need to pack spare parts or to predict every tool or object that might be needed, saving time and money at launch.<\/p>\n
Advances in metal 3D printing technology also could benefit potential applications on Earth, including manufacturing engines for the automotive, aeronautical, and maritime industries and creating shelters after natural disasters.<\/p>\n
A team led by Airbus U.S. Space & Defense and Space SAS under a contract with ESA developed the investigation.<\/p>\n
<\/figure>Semiconductor Manufacturing in Microgravity<\/strong><\/h2>\nManufacturing of Semiconductors and Thin-Film Integrated Coatings (MSTIC<\/strong><\/a>) examines how microgravity affects thin films that have a wide range of uses.<\/p>\n\u201cThe potential for producing films with superior surface structures and the broad range of applications from energy harvesting to advanced sensor technology are particularly groundbreaking,\u201d said Alex Hayes of Redwire Space, which developed the technology. \u201cThis represents a significant leap in space manufacturing and could herald a new era of technological advancements with wide-reaching implications for both space exploration and terrestrial applications.\u201d<\/p>\n
This technology could enable autonomous manufacturing to replace the many machines and processes currently used to make a wide range of semiconductors, potentially leading to the development of more efficient and higher-performing electrical devices.<\/p>\n
Manufacturing semiconductor devices in microgravity also may improve their quality and reduce the materials, equipment, and labor required. On future long-duration missions, this technology could provide the capability to produce components and devices in space, reducing the need for resupply missions from Earth. The technology also has applications for devices that harvest energy and provide power on Earth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile this initial pilot program is designed to compare thin films produced on Earth and in space, the ultimate goal is to expand to producing a diverse range of production areas within the semiconductor field,\u201d Hayes said.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/figure>\nThe gas supply modules and production module for Redwire\u2019s MSTIC investigation. <\/div>\nRedwire<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nModeling Atmospheric Re-entry<\/strong><\/h2>\nScientists who conduct research on the space station often return their experiments to Earth for additional analysis and study. But the conditions that spacecraft experience during atmospheric reentry, including extreme heat, can have unintended effects on their contents. Thermal protection systems used to shield spacecraft and their contents are based on numerical models that often lack validation from actual flight, which can lead to significant overestimates in the size of system needed and take up valuable space and mass. Kentucky Re-entry Probe Experiment-2 (KREPE-2<\/a>), part of an effort to improve thermal protection system technology, uses three capsules outfitted with different heat shield materials and a variety of sensors to obtain data on actual reentry conditions.<\/p>\n\u201cBuilding on the success of KREPE-1, we have improved the sensors to gather more measurements and improved the communication system to transmit more data,\u201d said principal investigator Alexandre Martin at the University of Kentucky. \u201cWe have the opportunity to test several heat shields provided by NASA that have never been tested before, and another manufactured entirely at the University of Kentucky, also a first.\u201d<\/p>\n
The capsules can be outfitted for other atmospheric re-entry experiments, supporting improvements in heat shielding for applications on Earth, such as protecting people and structures from wildfires.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/figure>\nAn artist\u2019s rendering of one of the KREPE-2 capsules during re-entry. <\/div>\n
\u201cThe potential for producing films with superior surface structures and the broad range of applications from energy harvesting to advanced sensor technology are particularly groundbreaking,\u201d said Alex Hayes of Redwire Space, which developed the technology. \u201cThis represents a significant leap in space manufacturing and could herald a new era of technological advancements with wide-reaching implications for both space exploration and terrestrial applications.\u201d<\/p>\n
This technology could enable autonomous manufacturing to replace the many machines and processes currently used to make a wide range of semiconductors, potentially leading to the development of more efficient and higher-performing electrical devices.<\/p>\n
Manufacturing semiconductor devices in microgravity also may improve their quality and reduce the materials, equipment, and labor required. On future long-duration missions, this technology could provide the capability to produce components and devices in space, reducing the need for resupply missions from Earth. The technology also has applications for devices that harvest energy and provide power on Earth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile this initial pilot program is designed to compare thin films produced on Earth and in space, the ultimate goal is to expand to producing a diverse range of production areas within the semiconductor field,\u201d Hayes said.<\/p>\n
<\/figure>Modeling Atmospheric Re-entry<\/strong><\/h2>\nScientists who conduct research on the space station often return their experiments to Earth for additional analysis and study. But the conditions that spacecraft experience during atmospheric reentry, including extreme heat, can have unintended effects on their contents. Thermal protection systems used to shield spacecraft and their contents are based on numerical models that often lack validation from actual flight, which can lead to significant overestimates in the size of system needed and take up valuable space and mass. Kentucky Re-entry Probe Experiment-2 (KREPE-2<\/a>), part of an effort to improve thermal protection system technology, uses three capsules outfitted with different heat shield materials and a variety of sensors to obtain data on actual reentry conditions.<\/p>\n\u201cBuilding on the success of KREPE-1, we have improved the sensors to gather more measurements and improved the communication system to transmit more data,\u201d said principal investigator Alexandre Martin at the University of Kentucky. \u201cWe have the opportunity to test several heat shields provided by NASA that have never been tested before, and another manufactured entirely at the University of Kentucky, also a first.\u201d<\/p>\n
The capsules can be outfitted for other atmospheric re-entry experiments, supporting improvements in heat shielding for applications on Earth, such as protecting people and structures from wildfires.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/figure>\nAn artist\u2019s rendering of one of the KREPE-2 capsules during re-entry. <\/div>\n
\u201cBuilding on the success of KREPE-1, we have improved the sensors to gather more measurements and improved the communication system to transmit more data,\u201d said principal investigator Alexandre Martin at the University of Kentucky. \u201cWe have the opportunity to test several heat shields provided by NASA that have never been tested before, and another manufactured entirely at the University of Kentucky, also a first.\u201d<\/p>\n
The capsules can be outfitted for other atmospheric re-entry experiments, supporting improvements in heat shielding for applications on Earth, such as protecting people and structures from wildfires.<\/p>\n
<\/figure>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/surgical-robot-vic-nasa-07465.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/figure>![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/janus-base-nano-matrix-cartilage-tissue-cells-yc-image-2.jpg?w=1276\")
<\/figure>